Revision as of 15:32, August 8, 2013

The Server Configuration section of the Server Information Server tab contains information about your site's server with minimum suggestions, the current value and a pass/fail status. This information is useful for gathering information about your server configuration and troubleshooting.

Server Configuration Information

The following server configuration information is available:

BackupBuddy Version

Once you have licensed BackupBuddy, you may select this to go to the Plugins page to upgrade to the latest minor version. Typically only major versions are available for automatic updates but this option allows you to force updating to the latest minor version.

WordPress Version

Version of WordPress currently running. It is important to keep your WordPress up to date for security & features.

MySQL Version

Version of your database server (mysql) as reported to this script by WordPress.

AddHandler in .htaccess

If detected, then you may have difficulty migrating your site to some hosts without first removing the AddHandler line. Some hosts will malfunction with this line in the .htaccess file; host dependant (none best unless required)

PHP Version

Version of PHP currently running on the site.

PHP max_execution_time (server-reported)

Maximum amount of time that PHP allows scripts to run. After this limit is reached the script is killed. The more time available the better. 30 seconds is most common though 60 seconds is ideal.

PHP Memory Limit

The amount of memory this site is allowed to consume.

Zip Methods

Methods your server supports for creating ZIP files. These were tested & verified to operate. Command line is magnitudes better than other methods and operates via exec() or other execution functions. ZipArchive is a PHP extension. PHP-based ZIP compression/extraction is performed via a PHP script called pclzip but it is slower and can be memory intensive.

Database Dump Methods

Site Size

Total size of your site (starting in your WordPress main directory) INCLUDING any excluded directories / files.

Site Size (Default Exclusions applied)

Total size of your site (starting in your WordPress main directory) EXCLUDING any directories / files you have marked for exclusion.

Site number of files

Total number of files/folders in your site (starting in your WordPress main directory) INCLUDING any excluded directories / files.

Site number of files (Default Exclusions applied)

Total number of files/folders site (starting in your WordPress main directory) EXCLUDING any directories / files you have marked for exclusion.

Database Size

Total size of your database INCLUDING any excluded tables.

Database Size (Default Exclusions applied)

Total size of your database EXCLUDING any tables you have marked for exclusion.

Average Write Speed

Average ZIP file creation write speed. Backup file sizes divided by the time taken to create each. Samples: `2`.

Guesstimate of max ZIP size

Calculated estimate of the largest .ZIP backup file that may be created. As ZIP files are compressed the site size that may be backed up should be larger than this.

Http Loopbacks

Some servers are not configured properly to allow WordPress to connect back to itself via the site URL. For example, http://your.com connects back to itself on the same server at http://your.com/ to trigger a simulated cron step).

If this is the case, you must either ask your hosting provider to fix this or enable WordPres Alternate Cron mode in your wp-config.php file.

WordPress Alternate Cron

Some servers do not allow sites to connect back to themselves at their own URL. WordPress and BackupBuddy make use of these "Http Loopbacks" for several things. Without them you may encounter issues. If your server needs it or you are directed by support you may enable Alternate Cron in your wp-config.php file. When enabled this setting will display "Enabled" to remind you.

Disabled PHP Functions

Some hosts block certain PHP functions for various reasons. Sometimes hosts block functions that are required for proper functioning of WordPress or plugins.

PHP Magic Quotes GPC

PHP Magic Quotes Runtime

PHP Safe Mode

This mode is HIGHLY discouraged and is a sign of a poorly configured host.

PHP API

API mode PHP is running under.

PHP Architecture

Whether PHP is running in 32 or 64 bit mode. 64-bit is recommended over 32-bit. Note: This only determines PHP status NOT status of other server functionality such as filesystem, command line zip, etc.

Http Server Software

Software running this http web server, such as Apache, IIS, or Nginx.

Server Load Average

PHP SSH2, SFTP Support

Whether or not your server is configured to allow SSH2 connections over PHP or SFTP connections or PHP. Most hosts do not currently provide this feature. Information only; BackupBuddy cannot make use of this functionality at this time.

WordPress ABSPATH

This is the directory which WordPress reports to BackupBuddy it is installed in.

Operating System

The server operating system running this site. Linux based systems are encouraged. Windows users may need to perform additional steps to get plugins to perform properly.

Active WordPress Plugins

Plugins currently activated on the site. A warning does not guarantee problems with a plugin, but indicates that a plugin is activated that at one point may have caused operational issues. Plugin conflicts can be specific and may only occur under certain circumstances such as certain plugin versions, plugin configurations and server settings.

PHP Process User (UID:GID)

Current user, user ID, and group ID under which this PHP process is running. This user must have proper access to your files and directories. If the PHP user is not your own, then setting up a system such as suphp is encouraged to ensure proper access and security.